seizure

American  

[see-zher] / ˈsi ʒər /

noun

1. the act or an instance of seizing. seizing.

2. the state of being seized.

3. a taking possession of an item, property, or person legally or by force.

4. a sudden attack, as of epilepsy or some other disease.

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seizure British  

/ ˈsiːʒə /

noun

1. the act or an instance of seizing or the state of being seized

2. pathol a sudden manifestation or recurrence of a disease, such as an epileptic convulsion

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seizure Scientific  

/ sē′zhər /

1. A sudden episode of transient neurologic symptoms such as involuntary muscle movements, sensory disturbances and altered consciousness. A seizure is caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, which is often diagnosed on an electroencephalogram.

2. See also epilepsy

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Other Word Forms

• nonseizure noun
• reseizure noun

Etymology

Origin of seizure

First recorded in 1475–85; seize + -ure

Example Sentences

The group responded to the government’s seizure of its domains, writing “We decided to respond to this ridiculous show in a way that will be remembered forever.”

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

He has started framing its seizure as the final fulfillment of the 1945 postwar settlement—a victory he notes the U.S. and Chinese people achieved as allies in the defeat of imperial Japan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

The rescue, owned by Christine De Anda, also said officials on the scene confiscated a phone, preventing full documentation of the seizure, and that authorities used catch poles to drag the dogs.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2026

So “what initially looked like a catastrophic blockade begins to resemble a constrained detour rather than a full seizure of the artery,” Innes said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

They can tell when a person is about to have a seizure.

From "Crenshaw" by Katherine Applegate

Related Words

• breakdown
• convulsion
• illness
• stroke